Chapter 3 - Charles Left Two Different Ledgers
The Boston storage unit was registered under Victoria’s maiden name.
Inside were no paintings or furniture.
There were filing boxes.
Twenty-three of them.
Richard arrived with his attorney, security chief, and a forensic
accountant before midnight.
Victoria was not permitted near the unit.
Police had already been contacted regarding Lily’s injury, and Richard
had made it clear that every financial document would be preserved.
The first boxes contained old Ashford family-office records.
The second contained something stranger.
Two ledgers.
One was the official accounting record from the year Andrew disappeared.
It showed Andrew authorizing six transfers totaling $640,000.
The second ledger showed the same transfers.
But the authorization codes belonged to Charles.
Richard stared at the pages.
His father had approved the withdrawals.
“Why would he blame Andrew?” Richard asked.
The forensic accountant, Maya Collins, examined the records.
“Maybe because Andrew discovered them.”
A handwritten note was clipped to the second ledger.
IF RICHARD EVER FINDS THIS, TELL HIM I TRIED.
The handwriting belonged to Andrew.
Richard sat down.
For twelve years he had never received a call, letter, or explanation.
Now his brother’s words were sitting inside a storage unit Victoria had
secretly maintained.
Maya found another file.
The missing $640,000 had not gone into Andrew’s personal accounts.
It had been transferred through three shell companies and ultimately
paid to families connected to a failed Ashford pharmaceutical trial.
Richard felt sick.
His father’s company had tested an experimental medication through a
subsidiary.
Several participants suffered serious complications.
Charles had quietly paid settlements without telling shareholders or
regulators.
Andrew discovered the payments.
Charles accused him of theft before he could expose why the money moved.
Richard whispered, “Andrew wasn’t stealing.”
Maya nodded.
“He was tracing a cover-up.”
Then Richard found Victoria’s name.
She had worked for one of the law firms handling the confidential
settlements.
That was how she knew Andrew.
Not through Richard.
Years before she married Richard, Victoria had already been connected to
his brother.
Richard’s phone rang.
Claire.
Lily had received three small stitches near her hairline.
She was frightened but medically stable.
Richard closed his eyes.
“Tell her I love her.”
Then Claire added something.
“Richard, Lily says Victoria has cut her hair before.”
Richard stood.
“What?”
“She says Victoria told her never to tell you.”
The financial mystery suddenly became secondary.
Richard had spent years believing Victoria loved Lily.
Now he realized his daughter might have been afraid long before the vase
May you like
shattered.
And he had not seen it.
